Operating handle connector arrangement for drinking fountain freeze-proof valve

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for functionally interconnecting the operating handle of a drinking fountain with a freeze-proof valve therefor, and which arrangement facilitates installation of the handle assembly. The handle assembly is provided with a shaft journaled for rotation relative to an access cover plate adapted to be secured to a pedestal of the fountain in covering relation with an access opening in a sidewall thereof. The external end of the shaft is secured to the handle for rotation therewith, and the internal end of the shaft is equipped with an eccentric plate having an inwardly projecting pin at an eccentric position relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft. The pin is adapted to project through an eye provided at the upper end of an elongated operating rod which extends upwardly through the pedestal from the freeze-proof valve located at the lower end portion of the pedestal toward the upper end portion thereof, and is translatable between retracted and extended positions wherein the valve is respectively closed and opened. A spring secured between the rod and the access plate retains the rod and eyeequipped upper end thereof in operative connection with the pin both during installation of the handle assembly and during use thereof.

llnited States Patent [1 1 Wright [451 June 19, 1973 OPERATING HANDLE CONNECTOR ARRANGEMENT FOR DRINKING FOUNTAIN FREEZE-PROOF VALVE [75] Inventor: Allen C. Wright, Moraga, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Haws Drinking Fountain Company,

Berkeley, Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 196,688

251/294 [51] Int. Cl. E03b 9/20, Fl6k 31/46 [58] Field of Search 239/24, 28, 29.3,

4/1954 Carr et a1 137/292 X Primary Examiner-Martin P, Schwadron Assistant ExaminerRichard Gerard Attorneyloseph B. Gardner [57] ABSTRACT An arrangement for functionally interconnecting the operating handle of a drinking fountain with a freezeproof valve therefor, and which arrangement facilitates installation of the handle assembly The handle assembly is provided with a shaft journaled for rotation relative to an access cover plate adapted to be secured to a pedestal of the fountain in covering relation with an access opening in a sidewall thereof. The external end of the shaft is secured to the handle for rotation therewith, and the internal end of the shaft is equipped with an eccentric plate having an inwardly projecting pin at an eccentric position relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft. The pin is adapted to project through an eye provided at the upper end of an elongated operating rod which extends upwardly through the pedestal from the freeze-proof valve located at the lower end portion of the pedestal toward the upper end portion thereof, and is translatable between retracted and extended positions wherein the valve is respectively closed and opened. A spring secured between the rod and the access plate retains the rod and eye-equipped upper end thereof in operative connection with the pin both during installation of the handle assembly and during use thereof.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures United States Patent 1 [111 3,739,805 Wright June 19, 1973 OPERATING HANDLE CONNECTOR ARRANGEMENT FOR DRINKING FOUNTAIN FREEZE-PROOF VALVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various drinking fountains are known which include a freeze-proof valve buried in the ground beneath the frost line for all-weather use of the fountain and control of the flow of water from a faucet head or nozzle mounted at the upper end of a pedestal upstanding from the ground surface upon which it is supported. The pedestal houses a pipe that extends upwardly therethrough and connects the outlet port of the valve to the faucet head. In addition, a valve operating rod may in some instances extend upwardly through the interior of the pedestal, which rod is appropriately coupled to the valve to open and close same in response to rod translation and thereby control the flow of water to the faucet head. In order to facilitate ready control of the water flow, an operating handle is typically mounted at the exterior of the pedestal and an associated assembly extending into the interior thereof is arranged for operative connection to the rod in such a manner that the previously noted rod translation is effected by rotation of the handle. Thus, the flow of water from the faucet head may be initiated by rotating the handle. It is of course desirable that the installation of the handle assembly and connection to the operating rod of the valve be accomplished as easily as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the connection of an operating handle mounted at the exterior of a drinking fountain pedestal to a valve operating rod disposed interiorly thereof, and is more particularly directed to a handle assembly which facilitates ease of connection of the handle to the interiorly disposed valve operating rod.

In the accomplishment of the foregoing and other advantages and features, an easily installed connecting arrangement in accordance with the present invention features a handle assembly which basically includes an access plate adapted for securance to the pedestal of a drinking fountain in closing relation to an access opening thereof, means mounting a shaft for rotation relative to the plate with the opposite ends of the shaft being respectively disposed-exteriorly and interiorly of the pedestal when the plate is secured thereto, a handle secured to the exterior end of the shaft to rotate same, a pin eccentrically secured to the interior end of the shaft and projecting longitudinally therefrom for traversal of an aperture transversely of a longitudinally translatable valve operating rod disposed interiorly of the pedestal, and means for spring loading the rod towards the plate to retain the rod in a position of traversal of its aperture by the pin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view with portions brokenaway of a drinking fountain embodying a connection arrangement in accordance with the present invention functionally interconnecting the operating handle of the fountain with a longitudinally reciprocable or translatable valve operating rod thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale of the handle assembly, with portions broken-away, that form a part of the connection arrangement just prior to securing the same to the fountain pedestal; and FIG. 3 is a traverse sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT face. The upper end of the pedestal includes a facuet head 13 and a sunken basin 14 for collecting water delivered from the head, the basin having a drain 16 connected to a drainpipe 17 which extends through the interior of the pedestal and into the ground to a level below the frost line, as indicated at 18. To controllably supply water to the faucet head 13 for selective delivery therefrom there is provided a freeze-proof valve 19 including an operator body 21 mounted within the pedestal upon the base and a valve body 22 buried within the ground beneath the frost line 18. The operator body 21 and valve body 22 are interconnected by a vertical pipe 23. The valve body is provided with an inlet fitting 24 for connection to a water supply line and a drain line 26 extends from the body. The operator body includes an outlet fitting which is connected to a water supply pipe 27 extending upwardly through the interior of the pedestal 11 into connection with a surge control chamber 28 housed therein and in turn connected by means of a pipe 29 to the faucet head 13. The chamber 28 serves to prevent the delivery of surges of water from the faucet head upon initial opening of the valve 19.

Although the valve 19 is of a standard type and its details form no part of the present invention, it should be noted in general that a valve spool is mounted within the valve body 22 for translation longitudinally thereof between a normal downwardly disposed closed position and an actuated upwardly disposed open position. In the closed position communication is blocked between the inlet fitting 24 and the pipe 23, which is communicated with the outlet of the operator body 21, while communication is established between the outlet and drain line 26 to thereby drain the head of water in the pipes 23, 27, and 29 and the chamber 28. In the open position communication is established between inlet fitting 24 and the operator body outlet and communication is blocked between the outlet and the drain line such that water is supplied to the faucet head 13. Translation of the valve spool between its closed and open positions is effected by means of an elongated valve stem 30 which is secured to the spool and extends coaxially through pipe 23 to emerge from the upper end of the operator body 21. A loading spring housed within the operator body and acting on the stem 30 serves to normally bias the spool downwardly to its closed position. An operating rod 31 is secured to the stem as by means of a coupling 32 and extends upwardly through the interior of the pedestal 11 such that upon translation of the rod between a normally retracted position and an extended position the valve is actuated between its closed and open positions.

It is of course desirably that the previously noted actuating translation of the operating rod 31 be effected in a convenient manner. In this regard an operating handle 33 is mounted on the exterior of pedestal l 1 and appropriately connected to the operating rod to effect such actuating translation in response to rotation of the handle, thereby controlling the initiation and termination of water flow from the faucet head 13. In accordance with the particularly salient aspects of the present invention a connection arrangement is provided which facilitates connection of the handle to the valve operating rod in an easily installable manner. More particularly, in accordance with the connecting arrangement there is provided a handle assembly 34 including a preferably rectangular access plate 36 centrally rightangularly traversed by a hollow cylindrical body 37, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The periphery of the body is formed with a shoulder 38 adjacent one end and an externally threaded portion 39 extending from the shoulder towards the opposite end. The shoulder bears against one end face of the plate and a lock nut 41 threadably engaging the threaded portion 39 bears against the opposite end face to thereby secure the body to the plate. The plate is adapted for securance to a sidewall of the pedestal l l in closing relation to an access opening 42 thereof, as by means of tamperproof screws (not shown). With the plate secured in position, one end of the body 37 projects exteriorly from the plate and the opposite end projects therefrom through the opening 42 into the interior of the pedestal.

A shaft 43 is rotatably coaxially disposed in the bore of the body 37, and the external end of the shaft is secured to the hub 44 of the operating handle33. More particularly, the hub is centrally formed with a cylindrical socket 46 engaging the external end of the shaft which projects outwardly from the external end of the body 37. In addition, the hub includes an annular cowl 47 coaxially outwardly spaced from the socket, which cowl circumscribes the external end of the body in encompassing relation thereto. An eccentric plate 48 is coaxially secured as by means of screws 49 to the internal end of the shaft 43 and abuts the internal end face of the body 37. The eccentric plate and hub of the handle thus maintain the longitudinal position of the shaft within the body. The eccentric plate is provided with a pin 51 projecting longitudinally therefrom at an eccentric position relative to the axis of the shaft 43.

The eccentric pin 51 is coupled to the valve operating rod 31, and in this regard the upper end of the rod is formed with a lug 52 having an eye or aperture 53 freely traversed by the pin. It is particularly important to note that, a spring 54 having a hook 56 at one end looped about the rod and a hook 57 at the opposite end engaging a lug 58 secured to the access plate 36 serves to retain the rod in its position of engaging traversal of its aperture 53 by the pin 51. More particularly, the spring resiliently urges the rod towards the access plate to engage the lug 52 against a shoulder 59 formed at the base of the pin. With the pin thus coupled to the valve operating rod, it will be appreciated that when the handle 33 is in a laterally projecting position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pin 51 is disposed laterally outward from the axis of the shaft 43 and the rod is in its normal retracted position wherein the valve 19 is closed. Upon rotation of the handle downwardly 90, the pin is rotated upwardly 90 to a position upwardly displaced from the axis of shaft 43. As a result, the rod is translated upwardly to its extended position wherein the valve is open. When the handle is released, the spring loading of the rod returns same to its normal retracted position and the shaft is thereby rotated 90 to return the handle to its laterally projecting position.

Considering now the manner in which the connection arrangement of the present invention facilitates ease of installation, assume that the handle assembly 34 is removed such that access may be had to the interior of the pedestal 11 through access opening 42. To accomplish the connection between the handle 33 and operating rod 31, it is only necessary to reach through the opening 42 and grasp the rod to pull same adjacent the opening to a position wherein the eccentric pin 51 may be easily inserted through the rod aperture 53. The spring 54 with hook 57 secured to access plate 36 is then extended to loop the hook 56 about the rod whereupon the spring is released such that it retains the rod in connected position. Thereafter, connection installation is completed by securing the access plate to the pedestal in closing relation to the access opening.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drinking fountain including a pedestal, a faucet head mounted on the pedestal, a control valve connected to the faucet head for controlling the flow of water therefrom, and a valve operating rod coupled to said valve and extending upwardly through the interior of the pedestal for actuating the valve between closed and open positions in response to longitudinal translation of the rod between first and second positions, an operating handle connection arrangement comprising an access plate adapted for securance to said pedestal in closing relation to an access opening extending into the interior thereof, a shaft, means mounting said shaft for rotation relative to said plate with the opposite ends of the shaft being disposed exteriorly and interiorly of said pedestal when said plate is secured thereto, an operating handle secured to the exterior end of said shaft for rotating same, a pin eccentrically secured to the interior end of said shaft and projecting longitudinally therefrom for traversal of a transverse aperture of said rod, and means for spring loading said rod towards said access plate to retain said rod in a position of traversal of said aperture by said pin, whereby said rod is translated between said first and second positions in response to rotation of said operating handle.

2. The combination of claim 1, further defined by the spring loading means comprising a spring having a hook at one end for looping about said rod and a hook at the opposite end secured to said access plate.

3. The combination of claim 1, further defined by a hollow cylindrical body right-angularly secured to said access plate with the opposite ends of said body pro- .at the opposite end secured to jecting from the opposite faces thereof, said shaft journaled for rotation in said body.

4. The combination of claim 3, further defined by said handle having a hub secured to said exterior end of said shaft and bearing against the adjacent end of said body, and an eccentric plate coaxially secured to said interior end of said shaft and bearing against the adjacent end of said body, said hub and eccentric plate thereby maintaining the longitudinal position of said shaft in said body, said pin projecting longitudinally outward from said eccentric plate at an eccentric position thereof.

5. The combination of claim 4, further defined by the spring loading means comprising a spring having a hook at one end for looping about said rod and a hook said access plate. k 4 1( 1 

1. In a drinking fountain including a pedestal, a faucet head mounted on the pedestal, a control valve connected to the faucet head for controlling the flow of water therefrom, and a valve operating rod coupled to said valve and extending upwardly through the interior of the pedestal for actuating the valve between closed and open positions in response to longitudinal translation of the rod between first and second positions, an operating handle connection arrangement comprising an access plate adapted for securance to said pedestal in closing relation to an access opening extending into the interior thereof, a shaft, means mounting said shaft for rotation relative to said plate with the opposite ends of the shaft being disposed exteriorly and interiorly of said pedestal when said plate is secured thereto, an operating handle secured to the exterior end of said shaft for rotating same, a pin eccentrically secured to the interior end of said shaft and projecting longitudinally therefrom for traversal of a transverse aperture of said rod, and means for spring loading said rod towards said access plate to retain said rod in a position of traversal of said aperture by said pin, whereby said rod is translated between said first and second positions in response to rotation of said operating handle.
 2. The combination of claim 1, further defined by the spring loading means comprising a spring having a hook at one end for looping about said rod and a hook at the opposite end secured to said access plate.
 3. The combination of claim 1, further defined by a hollow cylindrical body right-angularly secured to said access plate with the opposite ends of said body projecting from the opposite faces thereof, said shaft journaled for rotation in said body.
 4. The combination of claim 3, further defined by said handle having a hub secured to said exterior end of said shaft and bearing against the adjacent end of said body, and an eccentric plate coaxially secured to said interior end of said shaft and bearing against the adjacent end of said body, said hub and eccentric plate thereby maintaining the longitudinal position of said shaft in said body, said pin projecting longitudinally outward from said eccentric plate at an eccentric position thereof.
 5. The combination of claim 4, further defined by the spring loading means comprising a spring having a hook at one end for looping about said rod and a hook at the opposite end secured to said access plate. 